Unclaimed remains unknown problem in Chatham County

Did you know there are countless human remains that go
unclaimed in Chatham County every year?

In a back room at the Chatham County Coroner's Office are
the remains of nearly 200 people, stored in white cardboard boxes and stacked
on plastic shelves.

Some of the remains have gone unclaimed for a decade. One of
the remains left unclaimed are of a mother, and her son's remains go unclaimed
in a hospital morgue.

"Howie, um, ended up with no family," said friend Mark
Stewart.

Howie Roller was a character, a fixture at Port Wentworth
pool halls since he was a little boy.

"He couldn't hardly see over the pool table, but that boy
could play pool," said Stewart.

Roller was a carpenter and a fisherman. He had a job at
Gulfstream. Then, in 2007, his brother died.

"Things really started going south for him," said friend
Michael Williams.

Roller turned to alcohol.

"He lost his job, and he had another half decent job, and he
lost it due to the drinking," said Williams.

Roller ended up homeless, and then in April his mother died.
Friends said that's when Roller gave up.

"I think he just kind of gave up and slowly let the world
beat him up from the inside out," said Williams.

Friends said Roller hit the bottle harder than ever. On May
7, he was found dead in a friend's shed.

"We'll always remember him as a dear friend," said Stewart.

Last week friends remembered Roller at a memorial service at
Houlihan Boat landing, but it's still not clear who will claim his body or his
mother's remains.

The coroner said friends can claim the cremated remains that
are housed at the Coroner's Office, but friends or family have to reimburse the
office, and the taxpayers, for the money spent to cremate those bodies.